My Cars Blog: Skoda Superb

The Škoda Superb is a large family car primarily built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto as its flagship car. The versions produced from 2001 to 2008 are based on the platform of the Volkswagen Passat, but are elongated by 10 centimetres (3.9 in), and shares its major mechanicals and powertrain with the Passat, and therefore the larger resources of Škoda Auto's parent company Volkswagen Group. It is currently the largest and most luxurious model in Škoda's model range. The Superb name is a resurrection, originally used by Škoda for a similarly large models, between 1934 and 1942.
The name Škoda Superb builds on a tradition established before the Second World War. The first generation of the 'modern' Škoda Superb (B5, Typ 3U) manufacturered by Škoda Auto following its acquisition by Volkswagen Group is effectively a rebadged Volkswagen Passat Lingyu - a four-door five-seat Passat saloon/sedan, but with a longer wheelbase that was derived initially for the Chinese market under the name Passat Lingyu, and rebadged ultimately under the Škoda marque for European markets.

An all new Škoda Superb (B6, Typ 3T) was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March 2008. Based on a stretched version of the latest A5 Octavia platform, the Volkswagen Group A5 PQ35, this new Superb is a five-door five-seat liftback saloon/sedan, with an innovative tailgate that can double as a regular separate saloon boot, and full liftback, known as 'Twin-Door'. Being as it is based on the Octavia A5 platform, this latest Superb now utilises a transverse engine layout. Petrol engine options include five Volkswagen Group sourced units; consisting of an entry-level 92 kilowatts (125 PS; 123 bhp) 1.4 litre inline-four cylinder (I4) TFSI (with a turbocharger and Fuel Stratified Injection), a 118 kW (160 PS; 158 bhp) 1.8 litre I4 TFSI, a 147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp) 2.0 litre I4 TFSI, a flagship 3.6 litre 191 kW (260 PS; 256 bhp) FSI VR6 engine (a detuned version of that fitted in the Passat R36) complete with 4motion four-wheel drive and six-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG). Diesel engine options will include 2.0 litre I4 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) with common rail which is rated at 103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp), 2.0 litre I4 TDI 125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp) with common rail, and a 77 kW (105 PS; 103 bhp) 1.9 litre I4 TDI Greenline with reduced fuel consumption. Transmissions include five- and six-speed manual gearboxes, and the popular Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) with either six- or seven-speeds, as an option on almost all engine/trim combinations. Trim levels available in the majority of Europe are the 'Comfort', 'Ambition' and 'Elegance' - with Elegance being top of the range. In the UK market, the levels available are 'S', 'SE', 'Elegance' and 'Greenline'. A 'Combi' five-door estate version of the Skoda Superb was presented to the press in June 2009, and debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009.